Dresser-trunk



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. H. SMITH. DRBSSER TRUNK.

No. 563,624. Patented July 7, 1896.

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(No Model.) a sheets-sheen s. P. H. SMITH.

DRBSSER TRUNK. No. 563,624. Patented July l7, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

PAUL II. SMITH, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

DRESSER-TRUNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,624, dated July *7, 1896.

Application filed August 8, 1895.

.To @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, PAUL II. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dresser-Trunks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a combined trunk and dresser, and also a removable partition whereby a trunk may be divided into two or more separate compartments.

The nature of the invention and the features of novelty are set forth in the following specification.

In the accompanying drawings, in the several views of which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts, Figure' l is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line of Fig. 2, of the righthand end of atrunk containing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa view in elevation (the end of the outer shell being omitted) of the right-hand end of the trunk to show the construction and arrangement of mechanism for elevating the interior shell or trunk and dresser. Fig. Il is a similar view of inner side of the left-hand end of the outer shell to show the arrangement and construction of parts for elevating the inner shell and dresser at that end of the trunk. Fig. 5 is a perspective vienr of the apparatus in the position of use as a dresser. Fig. G is a top pla-n view of the removable partition, and Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line c e of Fig. 6.

l designates the outer shell or trunk, which is made strong and with the usual lid and trimmings. In the middle of each end of the trunk there is secured a verticallyeplaced tube 2, which is open at its inner side and provided With longitudinal channels 3. In these channels are placed boards a, extendingto the front and back of the outer trunk, and to which they are secured, thus forming a narrow space or compartment in each end of the trunk. Fitted to slide vertically Within the tube 2 is a second tube 5, which has brazed Serial No. 558,681. (No model.)

or otherwise secured to its lower end an arm or support 6, upon the inner end of which is formed a cone-bearin g 7, and upon its outer end a plate 8, the arm projecting through the opening or slot at the inner side `f the tube 9 designates the inner shell or trunk, which rests upon and is secured upon the plates S at the opposite ends of the apparatus.

Resting Within the tube and upon the cone-bearing 7, so as to turn freely thereon, are rods l0 and l0. Upon the upper end of the rod l0, which is slightly curved, is a vertically-standing head ll, having at its lowerpart a horizontally-extending flange 12 and frame I3, which constitute a seat for the removable tray la. In order to make thisitray li as light as practicable, its bottom may be constructed of a Wooden frame covered AWith canvas or other fabric. The right-hand end of the tray in its inner position is provided with a socket l5, into which the head ll projects to secure the tray from longitudinal movement on its seat. The tray is preferably divided into tivo compartments by a partition, and one of the compartments is deeper than the other. One or both of the comp-ait ments of the tray may be furnished with a lid or cover.

In Figs. l and 3 I have shown a cover of peculiar construction, in that it consists of two parts hinged together so that the compartments shall be accessible from either side. The iirst or lower part of this cover consists of an open frame 16, which is hinged to the rear edge of the compartment when in the inner position of the tray, and the second or upper part of the cover consists of a solid board or piece 17 which is hinged to the front edge of the open frame 16. The lower side of the part 17 may be provided with a mirror 18. By lifting the cover With the strap 19 access may be had to the interior of the compartment when the tray is in its inner position, and by lifting the part 17 with the strap 20 access may likewise be had to the compartment in the open position of the tray. The ordinary strap may be provided for holding either the entire cover or the part 17 and its mirror in the open position, as shown in Fig. 5.

The rod lO' supports iiXedly at its 'upper end a table 2l. Both the table 2l and tray ICO 14 turn freely with their respective rods, which may be lifted out of their seats.

From the foregoing it will be gathered that the inner shell or trunk 9, the tubes 5, the rods l0 and lO, the tray l4, and table 2l constitute an apparatus which is movable vertically in the outer trunk, the tubes 2 forming guides for the purpose. I shall therefore next proceed to describe the means which I have devised for raising this interior structure into position for use as a dresser. At any desired point within the narrow compartment or space at one end of the trunk (preferably the righthand end) is mounted in suitable bearn gs a flanged drum-wheel 22, having its inner side and one of its flanges provided with ratchetteeth, and upon the shaft of this drum-wheel is loosely fulcrumed a lever 23, which carries at its lower end a pivoted pawl 24 and has at its upper enda square stud 25 to receive removably a similarly-socketed handle-bar, by which the lever may be rocked to impart an intermittent rotary motion in one direction to the drum-wheel. A gravity-pawl 26, having a thumb-piece 27, engages the teeth on a flange of the drum to prevent the return of the drum as it is being rotated. To this drum are attached two cords 28 and 29, preferably of pliable wire. The cord passes over the pulley 30, which is made wide enough on its rim for the passage of two cords, and over the four pulleys 3l to an eye 32, attached to or forming a part of the lower end of the tube 5. The cord preferably has attached to its end a short piece of screw-threaded tube 33, which passes freely through the eye and is held therein by a nut 34, which may be turned to nicely regulate the tension of the cord. The shank of the eye 32 passes through a vertical slot 37 in the tube 2, so that when the cord is wound or unwound on the drum 22 the tube 5 and the parts it supports may be raised or lowered. The cord 29 also passes over the pulley 30, but thence downward around the pulleys 35 through a groove 36 extending horizontally across the rear wall of the outer trunk and around pulleys 35 at the left-hand end of the trunk (see Fig. 4) to an eye 32 on the lower end of the tube 5.'

The tube 2 at the left-hand end of the trunk also has a slot 37, which permits the vertical movement of the shank of the eye 32 and tube 5 at that end of the trunk. The tension device on the end of the cord 29 is like that on the end of the cord 28, and when the rope 29 is wound upon the drum 22 it raises the tube 5 at the left-hand end of the trunk and with it the rod 10, table 2l, and inner trunk 9, so that when both the cords 28 and 29 are wound simultaneously upon the drum the inner trunk, with the parts connected, are lifted at both ends vertically within the outer. The inner trunk 9 is of course made of such dimensions as not to touch the wall of the outer, and may be provided with rollers to insure freedom from sticking or wed ging when it is raised or lowered.

All the rollers or pulleys and the drum are preferably provided with antifriction-bearings.

A few strokes of the lever 23 will suffice to elevate the inner trunk, and when so elevated the tray 14 and the table 2l may be turned out on their rods 10 and lO, as on pivots, to the positions indicated in Fig. 5. The table 2l lies in a horizontal plane slightly below the bottom of the tray, and lies under it when both parts are turned in over the inner shell or trunk. The outer end of the tray may have pivoted thereto an extensible brace-rod 38, or rods, the free end of which may be notched to rest when lowered upon the upper edge of the outer trunk. When not in use,brace rod or rods may be turned up against the side of the tray.

The inner shell 9 may be furnished with a number of drawers, in which event the front wall of the outer trunk will be made in two parts hinged at or near the top to allow access to the lower drawer. If no drawers are provided in the inner trunk7 its front wall mav be made in two parts, so as to fold together. the lower part being hinged at or near the bottom of the same, and when the two parts are then folded and the dresser in its elevated position they may be turned down to rest horizontally upon the upper edge of the outer shell to form a convenient shelf 39. Suitable hooks or latches are, of course, provided to lock the hinged parts 0f the front against the inner shell when the dresser is to be lowered.

It is well known that a trunk is subjected to very rough handling during transportation, and unless the contents completely iill the trunk, and are tightly packed, they are likely to be tumbled about, confused, and damaged. It is one of the objects of my present invention to provide a device for preventing this, and I have shown one example of the same in Figs. 6 and 7. In the instance shown two boards 40 and 40 are hinged to the opposite edges of the arms of a center piece 4l. which is formed with tongues 4l. These tongues have their edges rabbeted and lit neatly in the rabbeted edges of correspondingly-shaped openin gs in the boards. The center piece and boards together, when flattened out, are made of a length about equal to the distance between the walls of the trunk into which it is to be used, and sharp pins 42 are provided in the end of boards to enter the opposite walls of the trunk when the device is placed in position and iiattened out. Suitable locking devices 43 near the ends of the tongues are employed to lock the end boards to the center piece when t-he device is flattened out. The device thus constitutes a removable partition, which may be inserted either horizontally or vertically in the trunk. and one or more may be used to divide the chamber into two or more compartments. A very important use of this device is as a packer. If, for example, the trunk is only partially filled, the packer may be pressed IOO IIO

down upon what contents there are and locked in the opposite walls of the trunk, thus preventing any dislodgment and damage of the contents. I may hinge the boards 40 and 4:0 to the center piece so that they shall swing in opposite directions, and if at any time it is desired to get at the contents it shall not be necessary to lift the entire device out of the trunk. Suitable hand-holes are provided in the boards or in the center piece, or both, to facilitate the handling of the device. My invention also contemplates the use of one only of the hinged boards, substantially as shown, in connection With a single rigid piece shaped like the remainder of the structure.

Of course it will be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction shown, as they may be modified in many respects Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

lVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a dresser-trunk, the combination of the outer shell and the inner shell 9, the slotted or open tube 2, the tube with the tube 2 supporting the inner shell 9, a rod in said tube 5, a tray supported at the upper end of said rod, and mechanism for elevating said tube 5 and holding the saine in elevated position7 substantially as described.

i. In a dresser-trunk, the combination of the outer shell, the inner dresser-trunk, the slotted tubes or guideways 2 having channels or grooves to receive the partitions 4, the tubes 5 in the tube 2 supporting the inner dresser-trunk, and mechanism for elevating said tube 5 and holding the same in elevated position, substantially as described.

3. In a dresser-trunk, the combination of the outer trunk having a tube or guide 5 at each end, the inner trunk supported and sliding vertically in said tubes, the drum-Wheel 22 with means for rotating the same, the cords 28 and 29 attached to said drum and to the inner trunk, pulleys 3l and 35 over which said cords travel, substantially as described.

al.. An outer trunk and an inner trunk,

mechanism on the outer trunk for elevating the inner trunk comprising a Winding-drum, pulleys and rope, and a tension device for connectin g the rope to the inner trunk consisting` of a threaded tube attached to the end of the rope and passedthrough an eye on the inner trunk and a nut adjustable on said tube, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a trunk or other receptacle having Wooden Walls, of a follower or movable partition composed of two or more parts hinged together with means for locking those parts in ilat position, and sharp pins in the opposite edge of the removable partition or follower adapted to penetrate and engage the Wood of opposite Walls at any points Whereby the partition or follower may be lined in the trunks in either a horizontal plane or at any angle thereto, substantially as described.

6. A removable partition or follower comprising the two recessed parts 40 and 40 having pins at their ends, a central part Lil having tongues in the recesses of the parts L and the said parts 40 and 40 being hinged to the opposite edges of the central part 41 so as to open in opposite directions, and means for locking the parts et() and 40 to the tongues, substantially as shown and described.

7. An outer shell or trunk and an inner shell or trunk, mechanism for elevating and holding in elevated position the inner shell or trunk, a tray pivoted at one end of the inner trunk and adapted to be turned outwardly therefrom independently of the elevating mechanism, a table pivoted at the other end of the inner trunk to be turned outwardly an d also constructed to be turned under the tray When the latter is turned into position to be lowered into the outer shell, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PAUL H. SMITH. lVitnesses r GEORGE M. FINCKEL, L. P. McGULLoUGH. 

